CAD USB II-R High-End USB Cable Wins hi-fi+ 2023 Award

Computer Audio Design helped audiophiles rethink USB, thanks in part to its USB II cable. That cable has now evolved into the USB II-R. As with the original, the exact construction details of the cable remain a closely guarded company secret, but it is similarly designed to tackle voltage noise and reduce unwanted RF noise from travelling from source to DAC.

Outwardly, the new cable looks much like its predecessor, retaining the separate +5V conductor, but CAD has redesigned every aspect of the cable to deliver the USB II-R. In doing so, the company has improved the filtering of the power ground and upgraded the common-mode rejection chokes used in the signal conductors.

Our testing by Andrew ‘Harry’ Harrison showed the USB II-R to outperform even pricier USB cables in overall performance. It delivers significant improvements in musical clarity, soundstaging, and instrument positioning. The cable creates the closest to an analogue sound in a digital cable system, removing digital artifacts and retaining the true essence of music. As the company puts it, this CAD cable acts as a firewall to RF noise, leading to a more immersive experience for the listener.

Harry concluded his review by saying, "The USB II-R is the most honest representation of music currently available in a cable, almost like an analogue pathway from computer to DAC. It comprehensively beats any known competitor."